Gate-latch.



G. W. & C. E. GOSS.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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Inventors Attorneys E STA TOE.

, GEORGE W. 'GOSS AND CHARLES E. GOSS, OF BALTIMORE, OHIO.

GATE-LATCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. Gross and CHARLES E. Goss, citizens of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the county of Fairfield, State of Ohio, have invented- A still further object is to guard against the casual release or unlatching action of the fastening or latch, as is liable to occur in slamming the gate to closed position.

A still further object is to carry out the aforesaid ends in a simple, expeditious and effective manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment of our invent-ion wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as relates to the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of our invention, Figure 1 is a broken perspective of a gate embracing our latch or fastening. Fig. 2 is a broken horizontal sectional View taken on the line 40-00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line y-y of Fig. 1.

In carrying out our invention, we suitably provide the gate 1 with a latch member" 2, preferably of strap or plate-like dimensions and resilient in character and of approximately U-likeform in general outline as disclosed by Fig. l. The latch member 2 has its upper end lateral or horizontal arm 3 let into opposite slots or notches 4 produced in the inner sides of parallel upright end members 5 of the gate, said arm being held therein by suitable clamp bolts 6 passed through said end members, above and below said arm and whereby the latch member 2 may be moved inwardly and outwardly for suitably spanning the space in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 31,1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Serial No. 641,517.

termediate the forward or latch end of the gate and thekeeper post, thus providing for accommodating the latch to the gate, whether the latter be of greater or less length, as relates to the engagement of the latch with the keeper, as is thought is apparent.

The lower horizontal end portion or arm 6 of the latch member 2 is adapted to be received between the upright end members 5 of the gate, but without contact therewith, to allow of the suitable adjustment of said latch member, as in regulating its tension by the action of an adjusting washer and nut equipped screw-threaded bolt-like member 7 fixed at one end to the latch the washer being designated as 8 and the nut as 9, said washer bearing upon the inner edges of the upright end members 5. A suitable flexible preferably wire member 10 connected at one end to the washer 8 and at its other end to a slat of the gate 1, is provided for effecting the convenient actuation of the latch, especially in efiecting the unlatching operation as will be readily understood.

A keeper or catch 11, suitably secured to the gate-post 12 for engagement with the latch-member 2, is preferably of the general outline as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the same having its base suitably secured to said post. The lateral outstanding parallel portions of said keeper are slanted or inclined upon their horizontal edges in opposite directions with respect to the opening and closing point of the gate. Said parallel lateral portions of the keeper are each provided with a notch 13 and, intermediate the eminence or inner end of the inclined edge of each lateral portion and said notch, each lateral portion is stepped as at 14, forming additional notches, whereby the tendency of the gate to release itself when slammed to shut or closed position will be prevented. This is due to the fact that, under the momentum of the gate the latch-member will by initially engaging the shallow notches 14 have the effect, of course, to check the gate momentum, allowing the latch to finally drop into the deeper notch 13 snugly fitting and securing said latch in effective position.

It is thought that from the foregoing disclosure, including the illustration or drawing the advantages or benefits of applicants invention have been made fully apparent, it only being thought necessary to emphasize the fact of the extreme simplicity, consequently inexpensiveness of manufacture and its ready application for use.

What is claimed is 1. A gate-latch of resilient character and approximately U-form in outline, one arm of the U being connected to the gate and the other arm being dependable With respect to the gate slats, a keeper for engagement With said latch, and means for actuating saidlatch.

2. A gate-latch of resilient character and of approximately U-form, one arm being'received Within slots in upright gate-members, means .for the retention of said latcharm in effective position in said slots, a nut and Washer equipped member having bearing upon the gate and secured to said latch, and means for the engagement of said latch from the gate post.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE W. GOSS. CHARLES E. GOSS. Witnesses:

F. P. JOHNSON, J. W. WENTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G. 

